Designed for couples, families, and even large groups to tour by private vehicle. Contact Hello@GoBe.com for available dates and pricing.

Pedal into the Past: Old Lisbon Bike Tour

Lisbon, Portugal

From(USD)
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Highlights

Commerce Square: Walk around and admire this spacious plaza on the shores of the Tagus River with an ornate gray entrance arch, rows of elegant columns and a prominent statue of King Jose I on a horse crushing snakes.

Discoveries Monument: A 171-foot tan monument built to resemble a ship's front bow with statue representations of famous explorers, marking the spot where adventurers set off on excursions to faraway lands like India and Africa.

Belem Tower: Built by King John II in the 16th century as a defensive outpost to protect the harbor, today it's popular for its gorgeous stonework, sculptures of religious figures, and nautical symbols like rope and an armillary sphere.

About This Lisbon Tour

Cars are great, but when you really want to understand a place steeped in centuries of history and adventure, you've got to lose the steel and windows and go face to face.

That's why your bicycle is the perfect method of transportation to zip around a place like the Alfama district of Lisbon, which has enough monuments, Middle Ages towers and gorgeous stone architecture to look like a page in a history textbook come to vivid, awe-inspiring life.

Take the Monument to the Discoveries, known in Portuguese as Padrao dos Descobrimentos. It was built in the mid-20th century, but the heyday of the men it commemorates was centuries earlier. At the edge of the pale-colored stone is Henry the Navigator, Portugal's most famous explorer and a main catalyst of the Age of Exploration in Europe. Other famous Portuguese figures enshrined on the statue include Vasco da Gama, the first European to reach India, and Ferdinand Magellan, the first person to ever circumnavigate the world.

Nearby Belem Tower is also chock-full of history. First initiated in the late 15th century under King John II, the limestone tower you see today was built progressively by Portuguese monarchs over the centuries. Royal architect Francisco de Holanda added several more turrets to the top in the 1570s, and in the 1800s a crowning beacon was added for navigation. Through the years it's been a telegraph station, prison, and barracks.

It might not be a heavy wooden Man-of-War or nimble galleon, but here in Alfama a bicycle is all you need to take your own journey exploring the adventures that got started here at the edge of Europe.

Pavement problems

In Lisbon and a few other historic cities with Portuguese influence like Brazil's Rio de Janeiro, you can find interesting mosaic-style walkways known as Portuguese pavement. While the pavement is rich in history and nice to look at, it's also controversial: Detractors claim it is too costly, hard to install, and accident-prone to be used in public areas. Some cities are removing their Portuguese pavement in favor of safer, more modern designs, so be sure to check out the ornate tilework while you still can.

Getting prepared

Meeting point

Arriving by cruise ship? Please proceed pier side to the tour loading area and look for our tour representative with the displayed logo sign.

Helpful hints

Bring small coins for the bathroom. Take a light jacket or rain coat for the weather.

Getting around

Expect a 2.5-hour bike ride on paved paths. This tour is only recommended for active travelers that are in good physical condition, used to sustained pedalling of a bike. It is not wheelchair accessible.

Activity type

Adventure, Bike Tour, Family Friendly

Included amenities

Bottled Water Light snack - Energy Bar and Piece of Fruit

Tour ID

TR-EUR-PRT-LISB-EN-1010

Tour Participation Requirements

Activity Level

This experience is rated strenuous. Travelers must consider their physical fitness level and medical history when determining whether this tour is appropriate. Travelers with pre-existing neck, back, knee and/or shoulder injuries, cardiac conditions, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, other heart or respiratory conditions or any other medical condition must take particular caution when selecting a tour categorized as "strenuous". If you have concerns, you must consult with your personal physician before engaging in any activity that may be too strenuous for you.

Age restrictions

Suitable for travelers 10 years of age and older.

Weight restrictions

For safety reasons and the effective operation of this tour, travelers must weigh less than 260 pounds to participate on this tour.

Great photo opportunities

Bring money

Wear sunscreen

Bring water

Wear comfortable shoes

Wear Hat

Wear Sunglasses

Cancellation policy

Full refunds issued for cancellations made 7 full days prior to the date and time of requested services. Cancellations made within the 7-day and 72-hour window will receive a 50% refund of purchase total. Purchases are non-refundable inside of 72 hours.

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General disclaimer

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